Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2016) Vol 2
 

We have an idea on where Virgin Media UK will put Fox News, 4Seven HD and Kix when launch.

-4Seven HD will launch soon on Virgin UK Channel 215*.
-Fox News Channel will launch soon on Virgin UK Channel 626*.
-Kix will launch soon on Virgin UK Channel 738*.

*All Channels numbers are still to be confirmed by Virgin Media UK.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2016) Vol 2
 

Better not get young Vince too excited as he might end up fainting.:D

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2016) Vol 2
 

As of today

-4Seven HD is in full testing with live video and EPG information (May even launch by December).
-Fox News Channel is testing in some areas right now.
-Kix just an name has appeared - no live video or EPG information yet.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2016) Vol 2
 

Why are you so excited about if the Sony Movie Channel is coming to VM?

It's pretty much the same channel as Movie Mix with the movies shown in different time slots but in the same low picture quality.

If they were to relaunch it as an HD film channel like it is the the US I would be interested.

---------- Post added at 14:52 ---------- Previous post was at 14:50 ----------

Any update on if/when Amazon Video will be launching?

This side of Christmas would be great!

---------- Post added at 15:02 ---------- Previous post was at 14:52 ----------

AMC is one of the lowest rating TV channels in the UK, due to the exclusivity to BT customers it's watched by very few people.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2016) Vol 2
 

No new launch date.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2016) Vol 2
 

We certainly won't be getting Amazon Video this side of Christmas now IMO.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2016) Vol 2
 

I'm a bt tv customer and have only watched AMC a few times it's a poor channel but it is starting to improve with shows like feed the beast, into the badlands etc.

---------- Post added at 15:23 ---------- Previous post was at 15:22 ----------

VM will probably go crying to ofcom and claim Amazon are with holding it, it's normally what VM do.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2016) Vol 2
 

Now now Sir that is rather uncalled for with Virgin's big V6 press party just 9 days away.;)

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2016) Vol 2
 

The Price rise is for a "Bigger and better Virgin Media Experience" - wonder if they have anything else up their sleeve apart from the V6.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2016) Vol 2
 

I wouldn't bet on that, Den. They may formally announce the launch of Amazon when they demonstrate the V6 to the press on 30 November.

---------- Post added at 16:34 ---------- Previous post was at 16:31 ----------

It's not a bad channel though, theone. They've had other stuff on it as well, such as Fear the Walking Dead and Breaking Bad. There are a few things on there worth watching and IMHO it's rather better than W!

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2016) Vol 2
 

Well OB we shall see if your perceptive wisdom is right again on the 30th.:)

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2016) Vol 2
 

Fear the walking dead is awful tbf but i'm guilty of watching it as i'm hoping it answers questions.
AMC came after rights had already been snapped up i think in the future as rights become up for sale again AMC will bid for them and we'll see AMC become a stronger channel.
BT have also hinted at a entertainment channel of their own too.

---------- Post added at 17:05 ---------- Previous post was at 17:04 ----------

So they'll be announcing price rises then too :p:

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2016) Vol 2
 

Update on TiVo:

Therefore I think it's quite likely that 4Seven HD will launch on 203.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2016) Vol 2
 

Is there a clue to 4SevenHD's launch date in there? ;)

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2016) Vol 2
 

I imagine that 4Seven HD will join the EPG on 6 December.

This gives the old channel number a week to show a slate advertising where it's moved to (to reduce the queries to the call centre).

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2016) Vol 2
 

they should move

148. CBS Reality
149. Horror Channel

so that more4HD can go on 148 and more4+1 can go on 149 :)

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2016) Vol 2
 

That would make so much sense from a customer perspective, but I think their own EPG policy prevents them from doing it.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2016) Vol 2
 

Thanks for info.

We just found it on our V+ HD Boxes.

---------- Post added at 21:30 ---------- Previous post was at 21:28 ----------

We do not know why Horror Channel is even at 149 for. We say move Horror to just after Film4 +1 on the EPG. And give channel 149 to an other CBS Channel or they sister channel AMC.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2016) Vol 2
 

Possibly but the EPG slots 142, 143, 170, 171 & 195 will all get replacement channels on the same date without that luxury.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2016) Vol 2
 

Now we know why some Box Networks channels was listed as being set to move.

Channel 4 own 50% of Box Network.

http://mediaboyblog.blogspot.co.uk/2...move-some.html

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2016) Vol 2
 

RE: Amazon Video 4Seven HD & Amazon Video were technically at the same stage of progress in the scans I was given at the end of last week. There are active entries in the Program Association Tables for both channels, with all relevant streams present in the transport stream, technically both should be ready for launch as soon as the agreed launch date arrives.

Fox News and Kix aren't at such an advanced stage. Their video/audio streams are "possibly" present in the non-customer facing networks where the channels are listed in the NIT. It's not possible to confirm anything without access to the previously named DMC/RHE "networks".

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2016) Vol 2
 

VM can't just move things around the EPG as they're bound by regulatory, commercial and contractual obligations.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2016) Vol 2
 

Yes but they were only set to switch their own channels between currently occupied channel numbers, which they should be able to do anyway. I didn't see much sense in the new positions and, realistically, including the moves in a revamp of the whole music channel genre would make more sense. The music section of the EPG has a lot of gaps and looks in need of attention.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2016) Vol 2
 

An unknown channel has been remove from Total channels in the last hour.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2016) Vol 2
 

Media Boy Sources say As of today KIX has been removed and KIX POWER appeared instead. No video, no audio, only EPG DATA is present.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2016) Vol 2
 

Apparently there were quite a few changes overnight, I'm waiting for the actual details which should be sent to me this evening.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2016) Vol 2
 

I think that this could be another instance of a channel temporarily rebranding.

IIRC, it's done this before and predominantly shown Power Rangers.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2016) Vol 2
 

Kix was removed from its original transport stream and Kix Power appeared on a different one. The new location is usually used for VM service downloads / apps etc, suggesting that Kix Power could be a VOD or IPTV app or just a temporary service. I'll check the details when I receive the SDT analysis later tonight.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2016) Vol 2
 

Channel number changes just announced (effective 29 November):

ID moves from 253 to 170
ID+1 from 254 to 171
DMAX from 170 to 213
DMAX+1 from 171 to 214

Channel 4 +1 moves from 143 to 142
Channel 4 HD from 142 to 141
More 4 HD from 203 to 195
4 Seven EPG from 195 to 143

http://community.virginmedia.com/t5/...s/ba-p/3263385

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2016) Vol 2
 

Cheers.

Re: Motors TV going online only.

The new owners have now said that their new HD service will be shown as a linear service on Sky!

Maybe this is because Sky have allowed them back into the Sub Club with their transition to HD??

No word on the arrangements for VM

http://www.a516digital.com/2016/11/n...onfirm-uk.html

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2016) Vol 2
 

You're a bit late.

Announced and posted yesterday, see post #3113.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2016) Vol 2
 

The Autosport link you initially posted states: "Motors TV reaches more than 30million homes and has 130 rights agreements and 700 live events."

I thought at that time that the live events are a good fit for a linear channel. I did wonder if the statement that: "Next year, it will transition from traditional linear broadcast to a video on demand service", actually meant that they would be providing the VOD service as well as a linear channel.

Time will tell what happens on VM but I believe that Motors TV was one of the changes last night, although probably unrelated to the change of ownership.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2016) Vol 2
 

they rebrand kix to Kix Power its the same channel



On 22 July 2013 Kix received a spin-off channel, Kix Power, which replaced Pop Girl +1 on Sky.[2] The subsidiary channel broadcast only Power Rangers programming. Kix Power was replaced by a Kix +1 service on 1 October 2013,[citation needed] and this timeshift ran through October and November. Kix Power was then reintroduced at the end of November for a second run, to operate in the run-up to Christmas, with Kix +1 resuming at the start of January 2014. Kix Power will return, again replacing Kix +1 (or Kix +), on an ad-hoc basis around major school holiday periods; the channel will open its third run in early April 2014,[original research?] building up to the Easter break, and for the first time will screen content not related to the Power Rangers franchise:[original research?] a daily online vote will determine the show to be played as a block on Kix Power the following day.[citation needed] On 22 April 2014, Kix +1 relaunched, this time as Kix +. On 14 July 2014, Kix + was closed down and replaced with Pop +1, which closed in 2008 and was replaced with the actual Kix channel. On 27 October 2014, Kix was rebranded as Kix Power for the October half-term. On 1 October 2015, Kix +1 relaunched, replacing Pop Girl. On the 14th June 2016, Kix+1 closed down on Freesat and was replaced with Pop +1[COLOR="Silver"]

---------- Post added at 19:01 ---------- Previous post was at 18:58 ----------


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kix_(U...and_TV_channel)

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2016) Vol 2
 

I'm aware of that, my point was that the Kix "test" placeholder has been removed from the transport stream it was on initially, a transport stream generally used for linear channels. The Kix Power "test" placeholder has popped up on a completely different transport stream, which is not generally used for linear channels. More information to follow when I get the details...

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2016) Vol 2
 

Found this:

Can't find where this was posted though.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2016) Vol 2
 

As we know and as VM/Liberty have stated, when they do new deals it includes not just channels, but on-demand and mobile access too. So the fact you're seeing this in a on-demand (VOD) section is not surprising as they'll probably will be VOD service(s) along with the tv channel(s).

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2016) Vol 2
 

I'm not making any predictions, simply stating that the "test" placeholder has disappeared from the original transport stream, which is one of many carrying a range of TV channels. The new "test" placeholder is on a transport stream not generally used for basic TV channels, it is a transport stream, providing the infrastructure for linking apps to the EPG. There is plenty of spare capacity available for linear channels without using this transport stream. More info follows..

---------- Post added at 23:52 ---------- Previous post was at 22:39 ----------

Last night's changes:

Transport Stream 7:
Motors TV (SID 702) replaced by _Service 702 and encryption removed.

Transport Stream 14:
Kerrang (SID 1401) replaced by _Service 1401 and encryption removed.
Box Hits (SID 1404) replaced by _Service 1404 and encryption removed.
Kiss (SID 1407) replaced by _Service 1407 and encryption removed.
The Box (SID 1414) replaced by _Service 1414 and encryption removed.

Transport Stream 15:
MTV Live HD pop-up (SID 1502) removed. (This will be the cause of the change in Total Channels which Media Boy mentioned.)

Transport Stream 17:
Kix (SID 1713) placeholder removed.

Transport Stream 21:
Magic (SID 2128) replaced by _Service 2128 and encryption removed.
Box Upfront (SID 2129) replaced by _Service 2129 and encryption removed.

Transport Stream 15:
Kerrang added (SID 1502)
Box Hits added (SID 1504)
Kiss added (SID 1507)
The Box added (SID 1509)
Magic added (SID 1511)
Box Upfront added (SID 1512)

Transport Stream 16:
Motors TV added (SID 1602)

The new additions to TS IDs 15 & 16 were unencrypted at the time of the scan.

Transport Stream 44:
New placeholder added for Kix Power (SID 4405)

Transport stream 44 is an unusual choice if this is to be a linear channel. It is the home of:

Amazon Video (placeholder), TIDDLERS TV, hayu, YouTube, Worldbox, Netflix, Vevo - all apps.
It is also used as overflow capacity to carry temporary channels such as the BBC Olympic SD channels.

The information I was previously given about service downloads was incorrect, service downloads are carried on TS IDs 1 & 42 not TS ID 44. Nevertheless, this would be an unusual location for a permanent linear channel, so the jury is out on what form Kix Power will eventually take on VM.

The "_Service" labels will be temporary and will be removed eventually, if they haven't been removed already.

So an overnight game of musical chairs for Motors TV and Box Plus channels on VM.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2016) Vol 2
 

So does this mean we are finally getting the Amazon app for TiVo and or is it for the new V6 or are our hopes being built up again to be shattered 😉

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2016) Vol 2
 

Don't we just love if's , but's and maybe's.:)

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2016) Vol 2
 

If it wasn't this forum would be boring 😂

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2016) Vol 2
 

I wonder if VM have removed the encryption from those music channels & Motors TV permanently? These are FTA/FTV elsewhere, so this may cut encryption costs for them.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2016) Vol 2
 

Since when have vm cold called? Got phone call making me offer to return to vm what was interesting was the v6 box was offered st no extra cost wasn't a bad offer either tv m+ plus 50mb bb plus weekend calls £32.99p/m plus £14.99 connection.
I ofcourse told them no but was polite but as i said the intersting part is the new tivo being offered on such a low pack, yes i know m+ isn't called that anymore but i still have havit of refering to vm tv as m, m+, l and xl lol.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2016) Vol 2
 

Looks like it's finally dawning on them that they have lost customers due to their recent antics.

Bet they are desperately trying to reduce churn to appease the shareholders ie allowing those on lower BB tiers to have a V+ and for only £14.99, trying to get back former customers (who by now have probably made other arrangements).

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2016) Vol 2
 

The EPG data for Kix Power says "Channel coming soon".

We have been given photos of it testing.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2016) Vol 2
 

Looks like they are now making an effort to get the main missing channels that are available on Freeview & Freesat.

What's left, Viceland, True Crime, YourTV? Any others?

---------- Post added at 13:07 ---------- Previous post was at 12:26 ----------

The channel 100 slot is being used again to promote Sparta Prague V Southampton at 5:30pm.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2016) Vol 2
 

We did see that early today.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2016) Vol 2
 

There's an encrypted video stream present / no audio - suggesting a still video slate linking an app to the EPG. Presumably ready to launch at a contractually agreed date.

Possibly a temporary measure, there's not really an encryption cost, VM routinely encrypts the majority of services presumably to discourage people from connecting their cable to cable ready TVs and possibly injecting noise into the cable network.

Relatively meaningless, it's one of VM's defaults whenever real EPG data isn't available. A quick search of VM's EIT data shows that description is currently used on:

Kix Power
bbcalbahid (the duplicate of BBC Alba - hidden from the EPG)
BT Sport Extra 1 (A red button stream not linked to the EPG)

Blaze, Talking Pictures, Frontrunner, Showcase TV, Irish TV, S4C HD, Pick +1 spring to mind plus various timeshifts, music channels, shopping channels etc.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2016) Vol 2
 

They've got more chance platting treacle than ever getting my custom again after the way they treated me.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2016) Vol 2
 

Pffft! you know you'd love to go back. :p:

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2016) Vol 2
 

As the old saying goes, it takes a long time to build up customer goodwill, but seconds to lose it. They came closer to losing my custom recently than ever before.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2016) Vol 2
 

A quick update, I have been informed that encryption has been restored to Motors TV and Box Plus channels and that the encrypted video stream present for Amazon Video has been removed. A set back for those expecting a speedy arrival of Amazon Video.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2016) Vol 2
 

Maybe there's a good reason for the Amazon delay? Heard Amazon Instant video will be launching on YouView by February. Maybe Amazon want to launch on various new platforms around the same time? I'm clutching at straws a little.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2016) Vol 2
 

Perhaps you need to look into your crystal ball a bit more.;)

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2016) Vol 2
 

Can we be absolutely sure that this means that Amazon is not coming next month? Maybe it's all done and dusted and they will simply add it on the due date.

I would be surprised if this didn't arrive, at least on the V6, by next month, as Virgin will want to emphasise the amount of UHD content they can offer right from the start.

I believe that what we can look forward to is UHD content from Netflix, Amazon, Virgin Movies, You Tube and Virgin Media exclusives on demand. Additionally, some sports events courtesy of Eurosport and ( a little later) Motors TV.

I am not sure whether there are other apps sporting UHD which VM can tap into.

As for Sky and BT premium channels, I think it is likely that we will have to wait a bit for them.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2016) Vol 2
 

It looked as if it was ready to be added on the due date when the streams were present. I'm not really sure what the removal suggests, perhaps they were added to all networks in error and should have only been present on the test networks.. I can only say what has happened, if you want to know why it happened, it's time to refer to the crystal ball, I doubt that VM will be making any comments.

I forgot to mention earlier that the 4SevenHD streams were still present and have now been encrypted, so that one still looks ready to launch.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2016) Vol 2
 

If Amazon does come to VM, it could mean more competition for Sky Sports :D

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2016) Vol 2
 

All I am saying is that the fact that VM have removed Amazon, does not necessarily mean that it won't appear. I think we place too much importance to the significance of these tests.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2016) Vol 2
 

There are test networks available for tests, rolling something out onto customer facing networks then rolling it back is unexpected. As the whole thing was encrypted and not visible on the EPG, why remove it if a launch is imminent? It hasn't been removed from the SDT and is still present in the Network Information Table on a limited number of "test" networks.

I'm inclined to agree that "test" services added to VM's internal networks aren't that important or significant, there is no guarantee that these will eventually appear on the EPG. I sometimes wonder if someone at VM adds this stuff as a joke and then sits back waiting for it to be reported in this thread. ;)

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2016) Vol 2
 

Another change to the EPG last night as my box woke up on a different channel, but cant see what it was.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2016) Vol 2
 

That thought had crossed my mind!:p:

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2016) Vol 2
 

I doubt that they would be so unprofessional as to do this, but there again they did once change Sky News to Sky Snooze, Sky Sports News to Sky Sports Snooze and Sky One to Sky Gone!

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2016) Vol 2
 

that was very cringeworthy

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2016) Vol 2
 

If the streaming services get sport why would many need the likes of Sky and VM when their products are available across many devices.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2016) Vol 2
 

Media Boy Sources has confrim that as of today AMAZON VIDEO is no longer testing on Virgin Media UK. Our Sources also told us a lot of things has happened on the network over past few days, weeks. We will keep you updated.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2016) Vol 2
 

Exactly. Maybe this news has made VM think again :D

The CEO did say words to the affect that VM wanted to provide access to content as opposed to VM providing it themselves.

Re: Sky Sports, I know that at one time VM made nothing from the Sky premium channels and that they were only there for customer convenience & to improve channel parity with Sky.

I think that this must have changed with Sky Movies at least as VM now actively promote them and are even cold calling customers.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2016) Vol 2
 

Ifs , buts and maybe's as you think Sky and BT are going to give up their premium sports rights very easily MM?.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2016) Vol 2
 

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2016) Vol 2
 

l would take that talk with a pinch of salt as l remember them giving that type of talk before and nowt happened.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2016) Vol 2
 

Den people are no longer prepared to pay stupid amounts just look at the Sky Black Friday Sale , half price Sports and Movies for 12 months :shocked:

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2016) Vol 2
 

You cannot judge things just on one Black Friday sale MM as it will require far more proof then that to tell you customers are starting to desert the pay TV providers in droves as Sky have been doing these sales for quite a few years if my poor memory serves me right and their customer base always seems to go up every time they give their quarterly sales updates so l am yet to be convinced personally.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2016) Vol 2
 

They are offering half price pretty much all year now funny that if everything's hunky dory like you would have us believe. How many companies would price things at half price if masses of people were chomping at the bit to get it.

Droves leaving , no just choosing to other bother with premiums or at least choosing not to pay at full price.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2016) Vol 2
 

l am not saying its all hunky dory but it ain't all doom and gloom either as l think some are overplaying it far too much IMO but then again what do l know.:)

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2016) Vol 2
 

Just thinking about the channel number changes next week, it's pretty daft that Channel 4 hasn't taken the opportunity to move 4Seven to 147, to mirror what they did putting it on 47 on Freeview.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2016) Vol 2
 

Whats going to happen is amazon will make a mega bid and sky will go nuclear to keep their precious rights.

Mega pay day for the rich greedy clubs and more price increases for us.

But yet ill keep paying virgin media as im 31 years old and incredibly lazy and childish at life.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2016) Vol 2
 

Hey, Vince, have no doubt that Amazon is coming to VM, sporting all their UHD credentials!

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2016) Vol 2
 

If Amazon and BT bid big and bought all Premiership TV rights I could see SKY doing one of two things.

1. Binning SKY Sports and re-investing the money on hoovering up as much TV and movie rights as possible including pouring more money into original content. Launching various new SKY branded entertainment channels and becoming the home of must watch TV and movies in the UK.

2. Keeping SKY Sports but investingly heavily in all things outwith the Premiership and agreeing a carriage deal to include Amazon in their package to keep Premiership football on the SKY platform.

I don't care at all for Premiership football.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2016) Vol 2
 

One thing is certain Vm certainly won't bid, and who can blame them the price of football is outrageous.

---------- Post added at 00:24 ---------- Previous post was at 00:22 ----------

Wouldn't be surprised if sky invested into the shows etc then did a deal with Bt so sky get bt sport and bt in return get the sky entertainment channels olus some cash too.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2016) Vol 2
 

Sky and BT currently pay a total of £5.1bn for 2016/19.

If:
- BT and Amazon each bid and won the next PL auction paying £3bn each.
- They had 6m paying customers each.
- The monthly costs to BT and Amazon would be £14pm to each provider even before the cost of filming, studio staff and presenters was included. Granted you recoup some of that from advertising and sales to pubs and clubs so let's stick with the £14pm.

Would Amazon really want to increase the cost of Prime by £14pm? I don't think so.

Alternatively,if the Premier League set up its own channel costing £6bn a year or £28pm for 6m subscribers would this be of interest to the British public? It looks quite pricey to me.

That's why I think the current set-up stands a good chance of continuing.

Where I think Amazon could do well is taking a less popular but global sport like Formula E and going to town with it.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2016) Vol 2
 

If Amazon did acquire premiership sports rights, such a substantial price hike for all Prime customers would be unacceptable. They would need to offer a separate sports package.

---------- Post added at 11:03 ---------- Previous post was at 10:56 ----------

I think you will find that it is not a foregone conclusion that Sky will be so successful in its future bids for film rights. With Netflix and Amazon now entrenching their position in the UK, Sky will have a real fight on its hands just to retain what it has now when existing contracts expire.

In my view, Sky should be concentrating on commissioning more original programmes which it can make exclusive to Sky subscribers if it wants to (although I would prefer it if those programmes were exclusive to Sky channels on multiple platforms rather than satellite viewers only, and this would also make the new approach more cost effective).

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2016) Vol 2
 

Amazon could just as easy sell it as a standalone with discounts for Prime members like they currently do with Amazon music Unlimited. They could also sell annual and monthly contracts with Fire devices.

I'm not suggesting they are going for the EPL if you remember I suggested they may test the water with smaller sports in their home country.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2016) Vol 2
 

Sky's KPI's in areas like churn and average revenue per user have so far been very strong so their pricing strategy seems to be working for them.
Sky is also now marketing its mobile service so that should help reduce churn and help its customers save money as they trade down from more expensive providers like O2 and Vodafone.
It's also worth remembering that each year the number of houses increases, currently 200,000 a year. So every five years that's a million more households for Sky to target with hopes that the 200,000pa figure will rise.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2016) Vol 2
 

Agreed they are a well run business although I believe ARPU has been pretty flat of late. My point still stands I just don't see Sky breaking the bank next time sure we may see a rise but nowhere near like the last set. In my opinion where we to get another surprise bidder with deep pockets I think Sky would feel confident enough to walk away.

As a platform Sky is attractive enough for any potential winner to want to host it's channels on anyway.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2016) Vol 2
 

This free factual channel has just started broadcasting in 4K on satellite (not currently available to Sky Q customers due to its broadcasting standard*):

http://www.broadbandtvnews.com/2015/...nment-channel/

I wonder if VM could get this for their 4K customers to watch?

* By default, it would be an exclusive too :D

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2016) Vol 2
 

I don't think we will see a surprise bidder for the next set of rights. As you say elsewhere, Amazon may bid for sports rights in the US first and see how it gets on with those. I think the high Premier League prices make them unprofitable for most companies.
Sky's ARPU has indeed stayed at £47pm but selling Now TV subscriptions won't have helped this figure so the satellite figure is probabkly a lot higher. The mobile launch should help increase this too.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2016) Vol 2
 

They could but it'll cost you a extra £5p/m :p:
Insighthd has been on SKY for a few weeks and it is not fta or ftv.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2016) Vol 2
 

Oh right! Someone said it had replaced the UHD test!

There's another temporary channel on channel 100, anyone know what it is?

I presume it's a Freeview for those who don't to subscribe to it.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2016) Vol 2
 

Erm...not quite.

Last years ARPU compared with the previous year was flat.
ie they had added more customers but the ARPU hadn't increased.

Discounting was a big issue for Sky last year. They have reduced ALL discounts for ALL existing customers so the ARPU may increase this year.

Most people are joining Sky Q at full price or with lower Sports and Movies discounts which will also help.

Based on above comments, I wouldn't expect Sky to be bidding big money for Champions League rights anytime soon!

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2016) Vol 2
 

AIUI Sky are offering 5 years with 60% off and no contract to try and keep existing customers.

I think that new customers get 50% off and a free UHD TV.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2016) Vol 2
 

Source says Viceland coming to vm and bt tv April 2017.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2016) Vol 2
 

Talking of BT/YouView, they are going to start using cloud technology.

Im surprised that the V6 isn't doing this.

Edit: Just seen this in another thread:

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2016) Vol 2
 

Aren't pretty much all the main providers starting to introduce elements of cloud technology ?

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2016) Vol 2
 

From what l have read that is definitely the case MM.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2016) Vol 2
 

The benefit that VM has over competitors is that they have a cable tv network to pipe everything over, whereas everyone else doesn't.

How reliable will BT, Sky and Talktalk be with cloud technology driving their tv services, not forgetting they've all got to share BT's FTTC copper wires alongside broadband services? Not much, I'd suggest.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2016) Vol 2
 

As per my earlier post, Sky has done very well to maintain its ARPU bearing in mind that the bulk of its new customers have been to the lower-priced Now TV service. This suggests that it has successfully grown revenue from its satellite customers through higher prices and additional services. Adding mobile services should raise the ARPU next year and only half of its customers take broadband from it so it should continue to add customers here and grow the ARPU for satellite customers.

Champions League has been shown to add customers to BT TV but its loss has not reduced Sky's customer numbers so I agree that it won't be bigging big here - just enough to make sure that BT doesn't get them for a song.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2016) Vol 2
 

BT TV is already an IPTV service delivering SD , HD and UHD over its FTTC product. Openreach is also currently trialling G.fast which should bring higher speeds when rolled out.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2016) Vol 2
 

Talktalk and Bt offer iptv over the openreach network, as MM said BT offer HD and UHD content too, also Sky use the openreach platform for on demand content.
Vm are just spiteful who go crying to ofcom if someone witholds a service from them, yet they keep their own platform closed.
Openreach are already upgrading to G.Fast and testing something else too. Already with services like hyperoptic it is clear the the openreach network will be fine, it does need upgrading but hyperoptic are already achieving 1gbs speeds both ways on it.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2016) Vol 2
 

Good grief some today seem to have it in for Virgin Media that is for sure...

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2016) Vol 2
 

I'm not convinced by G.fast, but we'll see. It's still the same copper wires and the further away you are from a cabinet, the less speed you'll get. At least VM's copper wires have all the extra shielding around them.

---------- Post added at 19:09 ---------- Previous post was at 19:06 ----------

...lost you there, on what?

Hyperoptic use their own fibre optic cables, nothing to do with BT's copper wires, unless I'm misreading you??

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2016) Vol 2
 

BT , Talk Talk , Sky and Virgin already have TV services based in the cloud their customers access them over WiFi or 3G/4G. Sky also has its OTT service Now TV which is cloud based.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin Media TV (2016) Vol 2
 

No i thought hyperoptic used openreachs network.